It’s amazing how quickly Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year. I thought it was just last week that I was taking pictures of my kids on their first day of school. I absolutely love this time of year. Colorful leaves, pumpkin pie, quality time with friends and family, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, cooking family recipes in the kitchen…there is so much to be grateful for. And I sure am grateful for so many things. Health, love, family, work, laughter, support, friendship. As we count down to Thanksgiving Day I am enjoying the moments with my students. I love sharing the different ways we celebrate this special time with family and friends.
I never knew just how happy a tissue paper stained glass craft could make me. Seriously, these turkeys added such brightness to my room. I found myself making my own turkeys with several groups so that I could share in the fun! I was inspired by the post at www.happyclippings.com. I used her template to make the smaller turkey but cut my own to make the larger turkey. You just need contact paper, tissue paper, construction paper, glue, scissors, and googly eyes (my favorite!).
The language targets were endless: choice making (colors, size, shapes), requesting (colors, materials), turn taking, labeling, location (top, bottom, side, middle), what’s missing, quantity (which color has more/less), description of size (tiny, medium, extra large eyes; small or big turkey); descriptive words (googly eyes, sticky paper); sequence.
And this is an easy craft for articulation groups also. Some of my groups worked on word level articulation targets and earned feathers (tissue paper squares) as they practiced. Other groups answered “would you rather” questions at a conversational level while making their turkey. I used target sound cards from my “Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie” set. I chose these because they were familiar with the vocabulary since we read the story in a previous lesson. I also supplemented with a thematic word list that my graduate student intern had created. You could incorporate any target sounds though using card sets or word lists.
We’ve also been playing “I have Who Has Thanksgiving”. A couple of years ago I learned about this type of activity through general education teachers. It is such a gem!! It is a perfect card game for my small language groups (3-4 students). I also love using it when I push in to the classes for students with autism. It’s a great tool to teach vocabulary, questioning, peer interaction, raising hand to share (classroom objective), and general game playing skills.
The teachers I push in with are fantastic collaborators. There are usually three adults (myself, teacher, and assistant) and we will split the kids into three groups at the table, each managed by one of us (this also helps to reduce materials being bent, chewed, or torn!)
I love my card holder set from Super Duper…this also helps us manage the materials and protect them from those hands that love to bend and tear (and they are quick!!) It comes as a set of three for $15. One of my favorite organizational tools! Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with your friends and family!
I’m impressed. I think you’re in line for County Teacher of the Year. I loved your remark about keeping the students from eating the craft materials.
Thanks for keeping up with my site Uncle Drew!
I just have to remember that “wordpress” is not spam.